Meet the Candidate: Logan Manhart

Manhart running for House District 1 seat

Logan Manhart is seeking one of two seats for the House in District 1 in a three-way primary. He faces Rep. Tamara St. John and Christopher Reder in the primary.

In the northeast corner of the state, the district wraps around Aberdeen and includes all or some portions of Brown, Day, Marshall, and Roberts counties.

The Dakota Scout sent a series of questions to all legislative candidates running in contested races for the state House and Senate in the June 4 primary election. Candidates were asked to limit their responses to each question to 150 words or less.

Age: 25
City of residence: Aberdeen
Profession: Construction/Real Estate
Public service/community service experience: South Dakota Secretary of State's Office. 2020 Trump campaign. Involved politically on the local level since 2018. 
Family information: Married. A baby girl due the first week of November. 

1) What's the government's role in facilitating economic development in South Dakota?

The best government is a government that knows how to stay out of the way. A good government creates an environment for the free market to thrive in. We don't want a state government that is there picking winners and losers. This includes tax policy as well. The best way the government can facilitate a healthy economy is by letting South Dakotas keep more of their own money. 

2) If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

George Washington. I would love to hear his true vision for what he wanted America to be. And hear as to whether we've been doing a good job or not.

3) Does the "Landowner Bill of Rights" -- adopted by the Legislature amid opposition to carbon pipeline companies using eminent domain -- strike the right balance between the interests of property owners, counties and the ag industry - and should voters get a say when they head to the polls in November?

No, it does not strike a good balance. It fundamentally takes away control from the counties and citizens. The largest County in District 1, Brown County, has measures put in place specifically to deal with dangerous C02 pipelines. Simply because the county does not want it here. The voters should get a say as to whether SB201 is adopted or not. The ramifications of mishandling this property rights issue goes far beyond a simple pipeline. The C02 pipeline is a Green New Deal item at its core. We do not need dangerous pipelines pumping useless c02 into the ground, all while risking the lives of South Dakotans.